OM5 Bennett Arron

It wasn’t me, it was Bennett Arron.

An essay by B.A.

{25th of July 2008}

I have a fairly unusual identity in so much as I am both Jewish and Welsh. The main problem I have with this is that I’m never quite sure why I’m being beaten up! Although my identity has always been important to me, I didn’t realise how much until someone took it away from me.

Just over eight years ago my wife and I were about to buy our first home together. We had seen the house of our dreams, our offer was accepted, our loan was in place and we had given notice on the flat we were renting. Everything was going well and we were looking forward to moving into our new home and starting a family.

Then I received a letter from my bank. It informed me that my home loan was being refused, as they had suddenly been made aware of my outstanding debts. Now this was a huge shock as I had never been in debt, I had always managed to pay off my credit cards in full each month and I had never borrowed any money. Even when I was younger I never once fell behind on my monthly payments to the Olivia Newton John Fan Club—even though I never received the promised lock of hair. Or teeth.

I didn’t know what was going on. I contacted my bank manager who told me that I had to write to the Credit Reference Agencies to get a Credit Report. Which I did. It showed me a list of companies, to whom I apparently owed money. I had never used any of them so I knew this wasn’t me. I just didn’t know what to do next.

Biography

Bennett Arron is the only Jewish/Welsh Comedian on the Comedy Circuit. His television credits include; Not Tonight With John Sergeant, Glee Time—where he hosted a series of six stand-up comedy shows, Large—a satirical sketch show for the BBC. He also performed in the film Dead Long Enough alongside Michael Sheen. He is currently a VT Presenter on Big Brother’s Little Brother for E4 and Channel 4.

Bennett has written for many comedy programmes, including The 11 O'Clock Show, Commercial Breakdown and the BAFTA winning V Graham Norton. He has also written for several children’s programmes including the BAFTA winning Slammer for the BBC and he wrote 21 episodes of Genie in The House, the highest-rated children's sitcom on Nickelodeon.